Crown Prosecution Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2004, Official Report, columns 206–7W, on the Crown Prosecution Service, what progress has been made with the planned review of interaction between prosecutors and the police in the process from arrest to charge.

Harriet Harman: A review of the charging arrangements in Nottinghamshire took place during December 2004. An action plan setting out a number of recommendations for improvement was provided to the Area after the review. Work on these actions has commenced and is being taken forward by the joint charging team.
	A follow up visit to the Area, by the joint Crown Prosecution Service and police charging team to assess progress against the action plan will be made in the spring,

Child Witnesses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service takes to prevent trauma suffered by children serving as witnesses at trials.

Harriet Harman: Crown Prosecutors work closely with the police and other agencies to ensure that children, receive the help and support they need to cope with the court process and to assist them to give their best evidence through a range of special measures, including the use of screens, giving evidence in private, video recorded evidence in chief, live TV links, and the removal of wigs and gowns.
	The introduction of witness care units across the country will further improve the experience for children. These will offer a single point of contact for witnesses, parents and carers, and a detailed needs assessment will be earned out to identify a witness's specific support requirements. A tailored support system can then be provided to them.
	In relation, to child witnesses, witness care units can be expected to support children by for example, arranging pre-trial court visits, providing an explanation as to what will happen in court, arranging a home visit, providing safe and easy access to court on the day of trial and also making contact with the local, school if there are difficulties in that regard.

Debt Cancellation (Africa)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries in Africa have had their debts cancelled in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: Since 1997 15 countries have reached completion point in the HIPC initiative. All of these countries are now receiving irrevocable debt relief (October 2004—Madagascar; July 2004—Ghana; April 2004—Niger, Ethiopia, Senegal; January 2004—Nicaragua; December 2003—Guyana; March 2003—Benin, Mali; June 2002—Mauritania; April 2002— Burkina Faso; November 2001—Tanzania; September 2001—Mozambique; June 2001—Bolivia; May 2000—Uganda).
	A further 12 countries are at decision point and are receiving interim debt relief (July 2003—Democratic Republic of Congo; March 2002—Sierra Leone; May 2001—Chad; December 2000—Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia; October 2000—Cameroon; June 2000—Honduras).
	In addition to those countries currently benefiting from the HIPC Initiative, the following African countries received treatments from the Paris Club involving an element of debt cancellation: 2004—Republic of Congo, Burundi; 2002—Cote d'Ivoire; 1998—Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire.
	However many countries are still having to choose between servicing their debt and investing in health, education, infrastructure and other areas necessary to allow them to attain the Millennium Development Goals. That is why the UK is proposing that we match bilateral debt relief of up to 100 per cent. with multilateral debt relief of up to 100 per cent. The UK will provide its share, approximately 10 per cent., of multilateral debt owed by eligible countries to the International Development Association and African Development Bank, and will continue to call on others to join us in this initiative.

Earnings (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) male, (b) female and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Sarah Teather, dated 24 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to list for (a) males, (b) females and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed. (217546).
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	These data are available on the national statistics web site: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme labour/ASHE 2004 inc/tab? la.xls
	We recommend that you use data for full time employees.
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent. sample of all employees.
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings publication criteria ensures that all estimates are undisclosive. A number of estimates have been removed from the published tables for these reasons.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the European Securities Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Information on the composition of this committee and a summary record of the meetings held is available from the European Union website at http://europa.eu.int/index en.htm.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Insurance Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Information on the composition of this Committee and a record of the meetings held is available from the European Union website at http://europa. eu.int/index en.htm.

Railway Stations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations have (a) opened and (b) been re-opened since 1 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: pursuant to the reply, 1 February 2005, Official Report, c. 763W
	The information provided should have been that since 1 May 1997 13 new stations have opened and 18 stations have re-opened.

Travel Costs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in the relative costs of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus has been in each year since 1975, taking 1975 as a base figure of 100, and discounting inflation.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 21 February 2005
	The following table shows the information requested on real changes in the cost of transport as indices based on 1975 = 100.
	
		
			  All motoring(6) Rail fares Bus fares 
		
		
			 1975 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 1976 97.0 113.8 109.6 
			 1977 95.7 114.5 108.9 
			 1978 95.5 120.8 113.9 
			 1979 99.6 117.9 112.9 
			 1980 99.5 124.2 121.1 
			 1981 99.5 126.9 119.8 
			 1982 96.8 134.1 127.1 
			 1983 98.9 135.1 128.5 
			 1984 96.5 130.0 125.2 
			 1985 95.3 130.4 122.9 
			 1986 90.8 134.6 128.9 
			 1987 92.2 135.9 131.0 
			 1988 91.9 138.5 133.6 
			 1989 89.9 140.2 133.6 
			 1990 87.1 139.3 128.8 
			 1991 88.5 145.4 138.8 
			 1992 91.1 150.4 143.2 
			 1993 93.5 158.4 147.2 
			 1994 94.4 161.5 147.4 
			 1995 93.0 163.1 147.8 
			 1996 93.5 165.1 149.6 
			 1997 95.4 163.8 150.3 
			 1998 95.2 164.9 150.0 
			 1999 96.0 168.3 153.1 
			 2000 96.8 166.3 154.8 
			 2001 94.6 169.7 158.4 
			 2002 92.3 170.7 160.7 
			 2003 90.9 168.8 162.6 
			 2004 89.1 170.2 166.0 
		
	
	(6) "All motoring" includes the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel tax and insurance.
	Note:
	The overall cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by 11 per cent. between 1975 and 2004. Over the same period, rail fares and bus fares have risen by 70 per cent. and 66 per cent. respectively.
	Source:
	Retail Price Index, Office for National Statistics

Targets

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 75W by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms).

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many NHS trusts have (a) complied with their statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, (b) published a race equality scheme and action plan and (c) carried out race impact assessments.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) have performance management responsibility for NHS Trusts. Information on local race equality schemes and action plans, as well as race impact assessments can be obtained from SHAs.
	To make sure that race equality is integral to delivering health services, four SHA chief executives in partnership with the Department and the Commission for Racial Equality developed a framework to assist national health service organisations measure for themselves their progress in promoting race equality within the health service. This guide can be accessed at (http://www.cre.gov.uk/pdfs.sha race equality guide. pdf).
	To ensure compliance with the legislation, the Department will be offering advice and support to NHS organisations in developing their new schemes. The Chief Executive Bulletin Issue 249, December 2004, included a reminder to all NHS organisations of the requirement to produce race equality schemes by 31 May 2005.

Royal Parks Constabulary

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanisms the Royal Parks Constabulary staff pay and conditions will be protected if they transfer to the Metropolitan Police Service as proposed in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	The key elements of the proposed transfer arrangements, which have been the subject of consultation with members of the Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC) and their union representatives, are as follows.
	RPC pay rates are pegged at 85.5 per cent. of MPS rates; officers transferring to the MPS as constables will therefore immediately benefit from a higher rate of pay, as well as the much improved career prospects which the MPS is able to offer. Their length of service and rank will be recognised, and they will have the opportunity to remain in the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit for a maximum of 10 years. If an officer is ineligible, or chooses not, to transfer as a constable but wishes to transfer as a Community Support Officer or member of police staff, then the MPS have agreed to maintain their rate of pay on a mark time basis for three years. If officers are ineligible to become MPS officers they will also have the option of redundancy, though we hope that few will be in this position.
	As civil servants, RPC officers are currently in the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS), whereas MPS officers are in the Police Pension Scheme (PPS). Officers transferring have the option of freezing their benefits in the PCSPS or transferring them to the PPS. We have worked very closely with the Government Actuary's Department on the arrangements for pensions transfers from the one to the other which are designed with the aim of providing at the time of retirement from the MPS a retirement package which will be at least as good as if they had remained in the PCSPS and retired at the same age.
	The current retirement age for RPC officers is 60, subject to continuing satisfactory health, conduct and performance. For MPS officers the retirement age is 55, but the maximum retirement age is also 60, subject to application for, and annual approval of, extension of service. Annual extensions take into account health, conduct and efficiency, and the continuing requirement for the role. So RPC officers transferring will, subject to these requirements, have the opportunity to continue until 60.
	The Police Act 1996 allows any person who was a member of a trade union immediately before joining a force to retain membership of that union with the consent of the Chief Officer. I understand that all requests from officers to retain union membership after their transfer to the MPS have been approved, and I see no reason why future requests should not also be approved.

Staff Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne), 4 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1162–3W, on staff surveys, if she will place in the Library copies of the staff surveys conducted by her Department since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has conducted three staff surveys since 1997—in 2000, 2001 and 2003—and I am arranging for copies of each of the survey reports to be been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mobile Phone Base Stations

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will subject the planning-process associated with the erection of mobile phone base stations to independent review as recommended by the National Radiological Protection Board Report, "Mobile Phones and Health 2004".

Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson) on 18 January 2005, Official Report, column 869W.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-patient admissions there were for deep vein thrombosis in drug addicts in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004, broken down by hospital.

Melanie Johnson: Information showing the total number of finished admissions to national health service trust hospitals in England during 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04, where deep vein thrombosis was the primary diagnosis and where drug addiction was mentioned; has been placed in the Library.

MRSA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of MRSA in hospitals in Sussex.

Rosie Winterton: There have been 262 reports of methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) bacteraemia by trusts in Sussex from April 2003 to March 2004.
	It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and modernising services, including reducing hospital infections.
	I am advised that acute trusts in Sussex are working hard to reduce the incidence of MRSA and have clear policies and strategies in place to help them achieve this.

Shipman Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of each stage of the Shipman Inquiry, broken down by main budget headings; and what the cost was of legal fees paid to each party represented.

John Hutton: It is not possible to provide details of the cost of each stage of the Shipman Inquiry, but expenditure for the Inquiry as a whole up to the end of January 2005 is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  £ thousand 
			 Shipman Inquiry expenditure (to 31 January 2005) Amount 
		
		
			 Chairman costs including clerk, expenses 79 
			 Legal costs including inquiry legal team, agents, represented parties, other legal costs, experts, witnesses/ search/research costs 10,623 
			 Communications including printing/other media, website, public relations, subscriptions, publications 1,185 
			 Facilities including fixtures and fittings, rental, maintenance, copier rental, hospitality 2,370 
			 Information technology including project management, hardware, installations, technical support, legal document management, telecoms 6,231 
			 Other administrative costs 436 
			 Information technology including project management, hardware, installations, technical support, legal document management, telecoms 6,231 
			 Other administrative costs including postage/courier, security, other admin costs 436 
			 Staff costs 1,867 
			 VAT refunds (2,013) 
			 Total 20,778 
		
	
	The legal fees of the represented parties funded from the inquiry's budget are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ thousand 
			 Legal fees of represented parties funded by Shipman Inquiry (to 31 January 2005) Amount 
		
		
			 Tameside Families Support Group 2,159 
			 Detective Inspector David Smith 126.5 
			 Mr. Alan Massey, funeral director 27 
			 Mrs. Primrose Shipman 35 
			 Market Street surgery staff 28.5 
			 Dr. Alan Banks, Medical Adviser, West Pennine health authority 19.5 
			 Tameside Register Office staff 15 
			 Mrs. Christine Whitworth, executor of victim 0.4 
			 Dr. Michael Overton, relative of victim 0.3 
			 Mrs. Janet Schofield, housing manager at sheltered housing complex 1.4 
			 Mrs. Ghislaine Brandt and Mr. Peter Rothman, Market Street pharmacy 3.5 
			 Total 2,416.1

Congestion Charge

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on congestion (a) charges and (b) penalty charge notices by the Department since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office has incurred no expenditure on congestion charges or penalty charge notices. Costs incurred by vehicles provided by the Government Car Service (GCS) to the Scotland Office are paid by the GCS; I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 10 January 2005, Official Report, columns 89–90W.

"Delivering on the Promise"

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total cost was of the "Delivering on the Promise" DotP technology programme.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan) on 16 November 2004, Official Report, column 1237W.

Sickness Absence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what initiatives his Department is taking to reduce the numbers of sick days taken by staff in the Department.

David Miliband: Cabinet Office is committed to managing sick absence effectively, having implemented all recommendations of the 1998 report "Working Well Together". These are supported by robust monitoring procedures and in-house guidance and training for managers and individuals. In support of the 2004 report "Managing Sick Absence in the Public Sector", Cabinet Office will ensure that managers proactively monitor sick absence and that they have the tools and training to do so.

Employment Rights

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on changes in employment rights since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since 1997, we have introduced a foundation of decent minimum standards in the workplace. People at work in Britain have benefited from:
	a minimum wage
	a right not to work more than 48 hours a week
	four weeks' paid leave
	a discipline and grievance procedure (and to be accompanied by a Trade Union official)
	a right to no discrimination on grounds of religion, belief or sexual orientation
	a right to membership of a trade union
	a right to trade union recognition for collective bargaining in specified circumstances
	equal treatment for part-time and fixed-term employees compared with their full-time colleagues
	protection for public interest disclosure (whistleblowers)
	paternity leave, adoption leave, parental leave and time off for domestic emergencies
	a right to request flexible working with an obligation on employers to treat the request seriously (for parents of children up to six)
	Maternity leave increased from 16 weeks' paid leave at £60 in 1997 to 26 weeks paid at £100 or more.
	In addition, from April 2005, employees will gain new rights to request information and consultation.
	The improvements we have made to employment rights have not adversely affected the labour market, which is performing well. We have proved that regulation, providing it is well designed and well implemented, is not an obstacle to high employment or running businesses successfully.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that employment rights are effectively implemented in all workplaces, so that they benefit all workers, including the most vulnerable.
	In the 2004 pre-Budget report, we pledged improvements to the arrangements for parents to take paid leave after the birth of a child and to extend rights to work flexibly. We are committed to consulting with employers and other interested parties early this year.

Regional Development Agencies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated Government expenditure by regional development agencies is expected to be in 2004–05; and what expenditure is projected for 2005–06.

Jacqui Smith: I have set out in the following table the planned expenditure by each of England's nine Regional Development Agencies in 2004–05 and their indicative allocations for 2005–06.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 235 272 
			 East of England Development Agency 91 129 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 138 156 
			 London Development Agency 327 373 
			 North West Development Agency 226 382 
			 One North East 365 240 
			 South East of England Development Agency 128 157 
			 South West of England Development Agency 111 153 
			 Yorkshire Forward 284 295 
			 Total(10) 1,905 2,157 
		
	
	(10) The RDA budget for 2005–06 following SR2004 was £2.163 billion. That figure excluded £21 million non-cash cost provision. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has since changed the profile of their contribution to RDAs so that the RDAs overall allocations is reduced by £26 million in 2005–06 and increased by £14 million in 2006–07 and £12 million 2007–08.

Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on aircraft research by his Department in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West since 1997.

Adam Ingram: We recognise the importance of the aerospace industry in the North West, both to the Ministry of Defence and the wider economy. We have not placed any 'research' contracts with companies in the North West region but as you will be aware, the Ministry of Defence places a considerable volume of work with companies in the region on both new programmes and support for in-service aircraft. Much of the work on new programmes is classified as 'development', however, details on money spent on such programmes is not held centrally, and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of letters sent in the current Parliament by defence Ministers to hon. Members following undertakings given in debates on the floor of the House, in Westminster Hall and in standing committee.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence endeavours to routinely place copies of such letters in the Library of the House. Confirmation that this had been done in every instance since June 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 20 October 2004, from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford, transferred from the Home Office on 1 November 2004, Ref. M15507/4, concerning Mr. Christian Magnussen.

Chris Mullin: UKvisas, the Department responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas, replied to the hon. Member on 16 December 2004.

CSA

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of full-time equivalent Child Support Agency staff are employed as frontline staff.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb dated 24 February 2005
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what percentage of full-time equivalent Child Support Agency staff are employed as frontline staff.
	I am not able to respond precisely to the question as asked. However, I can say that at 31 March 2005 the Agency is planning to employ around 10,300 staff. We have recently baselined the size of our head office function as 286 staff.

CSA

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency staff have been employed in teams handling complaints in each year since 1997.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb dated 24 February 2005
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply fro the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Support Agency staff have been employed in teams handling complaints in each year since 1997.
	I regret that we do not have the information for the period requested as we have only recently started recording this information separately.
	We are currently employing 930 staff within the agency either directly in teams handling complaints and/or teams handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, stakeholder groups or clients who may have earlier made a complaint.